Ericsson technique - Choosing the Sex of Your Baby

What is the Ericsson technique?

Ericsson is a sperm-sorting method that was introduced in the 1970s. It selects between the faster swimming Y-chromosome (male) sperm and the slower swimming X-chromosome (female) sperm. Sperm of the chosen gender are then directly inserted into the uterus by artificial insemination.

Is the Ericsson technique widely available?

The Ericsson technique is available in the UK at private clinics in London and Birmingham. The method is unregulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

How does the Ericsson technique work?

The aim of the technique is to separate the sperm into the male and female gender. This is done by pouring a sperm sample into a test tube that contains a gluey layer of fluid. Due to the pull of gravity, all the sperm swim downward, but the Y-chromosome sperm generally swim faster than the X-chromosome sperm and so the male sperm will reach the bottom of the tube first. Once the fast and slow swimmers have been separated, the sperm of the desired sex are artificially inseminated with the hope that you become pregnant.

How effective is the Ericsson technique?

The technique's pioneer, Ronald Ericsson, claims his method is 78 to 85% effective for choosing boys and 73 to 75% effective for girls.

What are the advantages of the Ericsson technique?

Ericsson is less expensive than PGD and has the benefit of being non-invasive and relatively safe.

What are the disadvantages of the Ericsson technique?

There is no 100% guarantee of having the baby girl or boy you want. UK clinics claim a success rate of 75 to 80%, but some fertility experts dispute this figure. Also, artificial insemination is a less reliable way of getting pregnant than in vitro fertilisation (IVF). As such, it may take a few attempts (known as cycles) to become pregnant, with factors like your age and fertility having an impact on success.

How much does the Ericsson technique cost?

Ericsson costs around £4,000 for four conception attempts.